Baltimore Judge Swears In Twelve new CASA volunteers

BALTIMORE – Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Baltimore welcomes twelve new volunteers this month. After 30 hours of training and approximately three hours of courtroom observation, all of the volunteers are now officially able to advocate for the best interests of abused or neglected children in foster care. 

On January 27, 2014, Judge Robert Kershaw swore in the following individuals as “CASAs”:

Barbara Brandon of Washington, D.C.                                          
Lindsey Dial of Hollins Park                                                           
Joyce Dreyfuss of Glen
Gay Williams of Laurel
Patricia Dunn of Edgewood                                                          
Arva Gilmore of Lochearn, MD                                                      
Jacqueline Maith of Idlewood
Stacey Walker of Belair-Edison
Julia Mason of Pikesville
Gabrielle Schwartz of Pikesville
Beverly Young-Savage of Rosedale
Dana Spence of Catonsville

This group of new CASA volunteers includes a flight attendant, several legal assistants, a bus driver, a phlebotomist, two college students, one current teacher and one retired teacher.  

 No special background or career experience is required to become a CASA volunteer, but all volunteers must be 18 years of age or older, pass a background check and complete extensive training.

 Beverly Young-Savage, a legal secretary for 26 years, says she decided to volunteer with CASA of Baltimore because the organization’s mission resonated with her so strongly. “While researching potential volunteer opportunities which would allow me to share my time, talent and treasures to help others less fortunate, I was introduced to the CASA volunteer program.  After learning of CASA’s mission to help defenseless children in need of a safe nurturing home environment, I knew this was the organization I had been led to [join],” says Young-Savage.

Over 6,000 children and young adults are currently in foster care in Baltimore City, yet only about 6% of them have a CASA on their case. More volunteers are needed to ensure that Baltimore’s foster youth have an advocate representing their best interests in the courtroom and beyond.

“We are pleased to welcome our new volunteers, and we look forward to recruiting and training more volunteers who will make a difference in a child's life,” says Evangula Brown, Senior Manager of Volunteer Recruitment and Training at CASA of Baltimore, Inc.

Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Baltimore, Inc. serves abused and neglected children by representing their voices in the Baltimore City court system and advocating for their best interests in the judicial, educational, medical and social service communities.

The non-profit recruits, trains and supervises CASAs to provide written, objective recommendations to the Court; to serve as a consistent adult presence, and to monitor that child's well-being. To be a voice for a child, learn more about volunteer opportunities with CASA of Baltimore, Inc at 410.244.1465 or visit www.casabalt.org.